What is ENCOD ?

The European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies, is a pan-European network of currently 140 NGO’s and individual experts involved in the drug issue on a daily base. We are the European section of an International Coalition, which consists of more than 200 NGOs from around the world that have adhered to a Manifesto for Just and Effective Drug Policies (established in 1998). Among our members are organisations of cannabis and other drug users, of health workers, researchers, grassroot activists as well as companies.

ENCOD’s goal: Our common concern is that citizens are particularly disadvantaged in confronting the effects of the drug trade and the negative side-effects of drug control policies, and at the same time, they are excluded from the (inter)national fora where decisions on these and other related policies influencing drug control, are made. Therefore, our goal is to obtain more transparency and democracy in the drug policy-making process.

ENCOD’s proposal: We believe that drug control policies should be subordinated to guiding principles of sound governance, such as those laid out in the the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on Biodiversity. In particular to those principles which guarantee respect for social, economic and political rights, and the cultural diversity of all human beings, and those which take into account the sustainability of the planet.

ENCOD’s task: ENCOD facilitates an effective information exchange, shared analysis and co-ordination of actions between a network of organisations that defend the interests of millions of people, many of whom do not dare to express themselves.

ENCOD’s history: ENCOD was set up in 1993 thanks to the support of the European Commission, as an NGO counterpart to the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction. However, the Management Board of the EMCDDA later decided to ignore any NGO involvement in the work of the EMCDDA. We are a self-financed and completely independent network. The association is legally based in Belgium, and is steered by a Committee of 7 people from different EU countries.

ENCOD members are invited to participate in an Annual Assembly and participate in several electronic mailing lists. The mailing lists provide a forum for exchange of information about ENCOD’s activities, the state of the European drug policy debate and planning of campaigns.

We publish a monthly bulletin containing an actual comment on the European Union’s drug policy and news on ENCOD’s activities. Suscribers and members of ENCOD receive this bulletin directly in their mail box.

You can support us by becoming a subscriber, member or donor of our organisation.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any question you may have.